Fall Events (76)

Beer enthusiasts will have hundreds of reasons to celebrate this fall when the inaugural Ballpark Ale Fest takes place inside Fifth Third Ballpark. Fifth Third Ballpark is home to the West Michigan Whitecaps who began playing in the Grand Rapids area in 1994. Ballpark Ale Fest is a craft beer fest that combines America’s favorite pastime with America’s favorite craft beers.

The fest will take place on Saturday, October 17 and will feature 50 different craft brewers from all over the country. The fest will also include live music, food, and more than 100 unique American craft beers. “The goal of Ballpark Ale Fest is to showcase American craft beer with an emphasis on fall beers from all over the country” said Josh Seago, founder of the festival. “It’s going to be an opportunity to sample a wide variety of American craft beers and really find out what styles and breweries you like,” Seago said. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience American craft beer at the ballpark!

General admission tickets include admission, beer sampling, 18 sample tickets, and a commemorative sample glass. Designated Drivers will receive complimentary soda and water. Tickets to Ballpark Ale Fest are available online at www.BallparkAleFest.com. Only guests 21 and over may enter the Fest. A photo ID must be presented with your ticket.

Beer City Festivals, known for events with hard to find craft beers, and patrons hobnobbing with microbrewery owners & brewers, is teaming up with Fermenta for downtown Grand Rapid's first ALL MICHIGAN tasting event. Michigan's finest beers, ciders, wines, and spirits are eagerly waiting for you to pair them with award winning food at this themed tasting event. Tickets go on sale today.

Fork Fest brought over 40 different local food vendors to the Romence Garden & Greenhouses on Lakeside Dr. in northeast Grand Rapids for an evening of food, beverage, and fun. Admission include unlimited helpings to food samples ranging from small portions to whole plate-fulls while drink tickets for purchase provided attendees with a selection of beer from Brewery Vivant which included the seasonal Pumpkin Tart, hard ciders from Vander Mill such as Totally Roasted with cinnamon roasted pecans, and Fenn Valley wine.

2014 marked the 7th year of the International Wine, Beer, and Food Festival with beer having just gained prominence in the festival over the last couple of years. Last year introduced the brewer’s loft on the 3rd level of the DeVos Place with long lines at the escalator to gain admittance and this year that trend continued with attendees seeking to try the over 200 beers available at this year’s fest. Some of the highlights for me this year include the draft selections from Cranker’s and the Bourbon Barrel Aged Shipwreck Porter from Arcadia. This year also featured another bonus: draft beer selections on the main level as well with Pike 51 Brewing and Jaden James (Peanut Butter Porter!) sharing joint booths with their respective Hudsonville and Cascade wineries.

It was a banner year for attendance at the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival which was held November 20-22 at DeVos Place. According to Festival organizers, attendance was up nearly 10% meaning more than 18,500 individuals gathered at the largest wine and food festival in the Midwest.